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Your cart is empty.Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation makes your towing experience simpler and more rewarding through innovation and value. Hopkins offers a variety of towing solutions including vehicle wiring kits, adapters, vehicle and trailer connectors, breakaway systems and much more. Today, more than 40 percentage of retail category sales are generated from Hopkins innovations. The Hopkins Engager Break Away System changes the way you protect your trailer investment. The break away trailer system activates the trailer brakes upon separation from the tow vehicle. This kit includes a built-in battery meter and charger, with LED test lights, which indicate fully charged, recharge, or charging. Trailer break away kits are legally required in most states.
Suzanne K.
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2025
Excellent
Pedro s.
Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2021
Real easy to install, works excellent and the price is very affordable..
Bill Moberg
Reviewed in Canada on August 1, 2020
I purchased it to replace the older model 20099, easy install, 15 minute job...great product and quick delivery, it arrived 5 days earlier than I expected
MikeJenkins
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2019
No instructions, which from other reviews is probably a good thing. Google search for wiring diagram took about 10 seconds. Otherwise works fine.
My experiences
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2018
I'm replacing an older Hopkins engager break away kit that failed the test of time. the previous box was metal, and the LED and Test button covers where gone, which permitted ingress of moisture which pretty much killed the curcuit board. I purchased this trailer used, it had obviously stored in the salt (water) air. No Dings for Hopkins. The replacement box is some sort of reinforced plastic - which good and will negate the rusting issue.The break away bracket is zinc coated metal - which will rust in about 3 years here in the Pacific North West. I like that the membrane that protects the electronics covers the whole box and not just the test button and LED like on the old metal box. This might actually stay on.My skill levelI restore old Jaguar cars as a hobby; so I'd think I'm a bit more mechanically inclined than the average bloke. I've never owned a trailer, I didn't even know about these breakaway braking systems until I got stopped by the State Patrol. I'm an avid DIY kinda guy and have a 98% success rate on projects that I take on. That being said...Here comes the dings - HOPKINS, I HOPE YOU'RE LISTENING!1. The instructions are crap.Either the instructions are written for more than one Engager, or the instructions in my box didn't match the engager I was having difficulties with the wiring because according to the instructions, my system had 1 less wire dangling from the control box. Once I figured out that this is nothing more than a battery powered relay to the braking system, everything came together quickly.2. Multi-lingual instructions all mixed together.I am a guy and unlike the stereotype, yes I do read the instructions. I find it very distracting & quite irritating to read a multi-lingual instruction guide, where each step has all of the supported languages one right after another. It's just down right lazy and cheap on Hopkins behalf. Write the manual in such a way that each language is on it's separate section.3. Quality.The product doesn't come across as cheap. but when you look under its skirt, you'll quickly notice the lack of knickers.The electronics aren't protected in any manner; other than being in sealed plastic box. Keep in mind this box and components are outside on the tongue of a trailer; which gets most of the crap from the tow vehicle. Moisture is persistent, IT WILL FIND A WAY IN! You'd think some protection from moisture would be in order. YES the plastic box is a good start, but what's missing is protection for what's inside the box. There is not any conformal coating over the electronics to seal from the moisture in the air. The battery connections cheap big box store crimp style connectors which aren't even Soldered AND crimped. The connections are bare exposed copper (wire) connections nothing to protect the connections, not even on the positive side. Copper is highly susceptible to moisture & corrosion. With corrosion comes added resistance, which equates to heat. Electronics really don't like heat. There you have it not built to last.
Jesse Nietzer
Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2016
I wanted a means to apply my trailer brakes without having to wire in the trailer's 12 volt battery. This kit works great while testing the output voltage when pulling the pin. Make sure you always leave the pin in place as to keep the contacts clean incase you ever need to use this in an emergency situation. The installation was very easy, requiring grounding, 12v power and attachment to the trailer brake wire.
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